Flow regulator



M. -l. GROVE Nov. 28,1939.

FLOW REGULATOR Filed July 27, 193e 2 lsxleets-sheet 1 i 25 y k 4f\ /9 l 56 55 65 g/ g4, 4/46 Jg 5275 72 7/ 54 52 55 45 M jg @974 Z5 2 6 j( Z4 42 45 77 7 49 47 /6 u /7 Bf/ 79 5 *7/ /5 /4 y76 -72 55 v 68 74? /0 65 l 69 INVENToR. Marr/'f7 H. @rol/e BY @www ATTORNEY Nov. 28, 1939. M. H. GROVE 2,181,428

i FLow REGULAToR Filed July 27, 1956 -2 sheets-Sheet 2 /0 f IN V EN TOR. Y

Marr/'f7 5/0 l/e 4 ATTORNEY Patented Nov. Izs, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relates generally to apparatus for controlling the flow of gases from a relatively high pressure source. It applies particularly to I so-called back pressure regulators, which are utilized in instances which 1t is desired to maintain gas in a tank or receiver, at a pressurernot to exceed a predetermined value.

It is an object of the invention to provide-a ow control device of the above character, which will be lsimple in construction, but which. will be simple in construction, but which will be positive and reliable in its operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for adjusting the pressure of compressed gas, in the trapped loading chamber of a regulator, the improved means being characterized particularly by the use of simple needle valves requiring no particular packing.

Further objects of the invention will appear fromv the following description in which the preferred embodiment of the invention has been set forth in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawings:

s Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, in cross-section, illustrating a back ow regulator incorporating the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an exploded view .separately illustrating the parts of the device shown. in Fig. 1,

and illustrating the manner in which these parts are assembled.

The particular embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings consists oi' a body I3. formed of suitable material such as forged steel,

and provided with an inlet openingv I I, and outlet openings I2. For controlling flow of gas through the body, valve means are provided, making use of a valve seat I3, and a cooperating valve member I4. The valve seat can be conveniently in the form of a ,ring which'is tted within the body, and which is held inposition by means of a'ported sleeve I6. Valve stem I1 is secured to the valve member I4, and this stem is operably connected with a iiuid operateddiaphragm assembly I8.

The majority of the flow control ory iiow regulatedvdevices now available o n the market, make use of a spring or weight for biasing a uid pressure operated diaphragm or piston in one direction; and the flow regulating characteristics y are adjusted by adjusting the value of such bias. With my device I prefer to eliminate vthe :use of springs or weights, and to load orbias the diaphragm assembly I8 in one ,direction by trapped gas under pressure. Therefore as i1- lustrated in the drawings the body III includes a dome I3. The flange 2| of this dome is securely clamped to the main bo`dy, by suitable means such as bolts or screws 22. The space on one side of the diaphragm assembly I8, enclosed by '5 the dome I3,V forms a trapped gas chamber 23, the gas pressure in which determines the degree of loading of the diaphragm assembly.

The diaphragm assembly illustrated consists I of a diaphragm 24, formed of iiexible sheet metal. l0

The peripheral edge portion 26 of this diaphragm is seated upon an annular ledge 21, formed on the body Ill. In'order to effect an absolute seal between the diaphragm and the two portions of the body, a gasket 28 is provided, which is preferably 15 formed' of resilient material, such as resilient vulcanized rubber. It will be noted from Fig. 2 that before gasket 28 is compressed, it is formed with oppositely bevelledv inner and outer side edges 29 and 3l.' When the dome I9 is assem- 20 bled -with the body I0, the gasket 28 is compressed between the peripheral edge portion 26 of the diaphragm, and the annular surface 32 provided on the dome. The resultant distortionj of the gasket 28, not only forms aneiective seal between the surface 32 and the peripheral edge portion 26 of the diaphragm, but also forms an effective seal with the adjacent annular surface 33, formed on the body. It will be noted in this connection that whereas surface 32 is substan- ,3 tially planar, surface 21 is slightly undercut, or in other words conforms to a section ofa truncated cone. Such an arrangement servesv to urge the outer peripheral portion of the gasket 28 against surface 33, to alford the desired gas- 35 tight seal. If desired an additional gasket 34 can be inserted directly'between the dome and the body. p

- The major area of the flexible diaphragm 24,

is engaged by a rigid circular disc 36. Extending 40 centrally through both the diaphragm 24 and the disc 36, there is a plug 31, the lower end of which is provided with an annular collar 38, to. clamp upon the inner peripheral edge portion of the diaphragm, and thus establish an eiec- 45 tive seal. 'I'he upper end of. member 31 is threaded. to receive a nut 39, whereby the assembly can be firmly clamped together. e

With respect to the operating connection between the diaphragm assembly I8 and the valve 50 member I4, it will be noted that the upper end o'f stern I1, extends into a bore 4|, formed in member 31. The stem is;4 slidably and loosely litted within a ferrule 42, which in turn is' threaded 1 into the lowerend of member 31. That portion e6 ofthe stem |1 extending above the upperend of ferrule 42, is provided with an annular groove 43, to accommodate a slotted washer 44, The upper end of the valve stem is engaged by a compression spring 46, whereby the valve stem and the associated thrust washer 44, are normally urged downwardly with respect to the diaphragm assembly.

In order to limit downward flexing movement of the diaphragm assembly, a circular ller member 41 underlies ,the diaphragm 24', and is secured to the main part of the body I0, as by means of a threaded connection 48. This member also serves as a convenient mounting for the sleeve 6, and as illustrated, the sleeve has a threaded connection '49 to the same. It will be evident from Fig. 2 that sleeve I6 can bevremoved upwardly through member 41, in order to permit removal of the valve seat ring 3.

The diaphragm 24 should have sufflcient flexibility to make possible the necessary opening and closing movements of the valve member |4, and at the same time must be of suflicient strength to withstand the pressures to which it may be subjected. In order to aiord a proper degree of flexibility, the annular portion 24a of the diaphragm, extending between the periphery ci member I8, and the peripheral edge portion 26, is corrugated as illustrated. Member 41 also has its upper face similarly contoured; in other words, it is formed to provide an annular ridge 5| which interflts in the corrugated diaphragm portion 24a, when the diaphragm assembly is in its lowermost position.

A rigid wall 52 is mounted near the lower part oi the 4dome I9, and this wall extends over the diaphragm assembly I8, to limit upward flexing movement of the same. The central portion of wall' 52 is shown provided with an opening 53, to accommodate nut 39, and is also shown bearing upon the lower end of a tubular reinforcing strut 54. 'I'he upper end of this strut can be attached to the dome, and its walls ,can be provided -with one or more ducts 56, for passage of gas.

Ihe valve means for adjusting the amount of gas in chamber 23, can be constructed as follows: Two needle valves 6| and 62 are provided, one being mounted Yin the main body |0, and the other in the flange 2| of the dome I9. Each of these needle valves is threaded into the respective bores 63 and 64, and their inner ends are adapted to seal upon the seats 66 and 61. 'I'he head 68 of each needle valve is accommodated in an enlarged counterbore l69, which in turn is threaded to receive a closure plug 1|.

Each closure plug 41| has a central opening 12,l

through which a plug wrench can be inserted, for engagement with a hexagonal socket 13, provided in the needle valve head 68. In turning a needle valve to open position, the annular end face of the Yhead 68 is brought into engagement with the inner annular face 14 of the closure plug' 1|, to eiect va seal to prevent escape of gas to the enterior. v

When the-needle valve 6| is opened, it establishes communication -between ducts 16 and 11. When y. needle valve 62 is opened, it establishes communication between duct 11 and the chamber 23, throughduct 18. Since duct 16 is in communication with space 19, on the inow side of the regulator, it is evident ythat upon opening' both the needle valves 6| and 62, gas from the high pressure inflowside-ofthe regulator can be 'bledinto vthefchamber 23, until a desired pres- `shown in Fig. 1.

sure within this chamber has been reached. Both the needle valves can then be closed, to aiford an absolute seal. In the event it is desired to lower the gas pressure in chamber 23, an operator may open needle valve 62, while needle valve 6| is closed, and then permit gas to escape to the atmosphere, by loosening or removing plug 8|.

Operation of the above device when used as a back pressure relief valve or regulator, can be described as follows: Assuming that -it is desired to bleed gas from a pressure tank, when the gas pressure in the tank exceeds a predetermined value, the inflow opening of the device is connected to the tank, while the outflow opening |2 can be directed to the atmosphere, or to a low pressure system. A suflicient amount of trapped gas is provided in chamber 23, to correspond in pressure to the pressure value which it is desired to maintain in the tank. Pressure on the inflow side of the device is applied upon the underside of the diaphragm assembly IB, so that if this pressure value is less than the pressure in chamber 23, `the diaphragm assembly will be maintained in its lowermost position and valve member |4 will remain closed upon its seat |3, as

In the event the inlet gas pressure rises above the value of gas pressure in chamber 23, the pressure on the underside of the diaphragm lifts the diaphragm assembly, thus causing valve member |4 to be moved to open position with respect to the seat I3, and permitting gas from the pressure tank to escape. As-

v suming that gas is being continuously supplied or pumped to the tank, valve member |4 will hunt between full open and closed position, to control the amount of gas permitted to escape, and thus maintain the gas pressure in the tank or receiver at a predetermined value. However, in the event the tank pressure falls below that of chamber 23, the diaphragm assembly I8 is again forced downwardly by the pressure of gas, in chamber 23, to cause the valve member |4 to close upon its seat I3.

As previously explained there is a certain amount of lost motion in the connection between the valve stem |1, and the diaphragm assembly |8. In other words, from the position `of the parts shown in Fig. 1, the diaphragm assembly I8 can be moved upwardly a small amount before picking up the "alve member |4. Suchlost motion is desirable in that it enables more positive closing of the valve member upon its seat, and in addition permits a certain amount of selfalignment of the valve member with respect to the seat, due to the fact that stem |1 is relatively loosely fitted within the ferrule 42.

In addition to the engagement between valve stem and ferrule 42, the valve member |4 is guided in its movements between open and closed positions, due to the fact that its outer diameter is only slightly less than the internal diameter of the ported sleeve I6. Thus although the valve member is adequately guided with respect to its seat, limited lateral movements of the stem |1 are permitted, within the limitations of the clearance between this stem and the ferrule 42, to promote a positive seal between the valve and its associated seat, when the diaphragm assembly I8 moves downwardly to its lowermost limit. 'I'here is no tendency for the valve member |4 to chatter with respect to the diaphragm assembly I8, due principally -to the fact that the valve member opens against the gas pressure. Also the valve member does not chatter against its seat.

Even though the tank pressure being controlled is of relatively high value, thedifferential pressure to which the diaphragm 2l is subjected, is not of large value. However, in the event that the pressure below the diaphragm falls to a relatively low value, as for example atmospheric, the diaphragm will not be injured, because it seats upon the complementary contoured face of member I1.

Diaphragm assembly I8 can be positively seated upon member 41, because the lost motion between stem l1 and the diaphragm assembly, insures proper seating of the valve member I4, without too muchforce being placed upon the valve member to urge it against its seat.

Subject matter disclosed butnot claimed herein is `claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 246,655, led December 19, l938,and entitled Back pressure regulator.

I claim:

l. In a ilow regulator, a body having an inflow opening adapted to be connected to a source of gas under pressure and also having an outflow opening for discharge of gas, valve means within said body for controlling ow of gas through the same, a iiexible diaphragm connected to effect actuation of said valve means, means forming a gas chamber on one side of said diaphragm adapted to contain a predetermined quantity of trapped gas under pressure, means forming a gas chamber upon the other side of said diaphragm adapted to be .connected to a source of gas of variable pressure, and means including at least one manually operable valve for introducing additional gas under pressure into said ilrst named chamber, said last means comprising a needle valve threaded into the body, whereby turning of said needle valve moves the same between open and closed positions, and 'means forming two valve seats for said needle valve member, one of said seats serving to seal the same` in closed position, and the other of said seats serving to seal the same in open position.

2- In a ow regulator, a body having an inow opening adapted to be connected to a source of gas under pressure and also having an outflow opening for discharge oi gas, valve means mounted within said body 'for controlling ow of gas through the same, a exible diaphragm connected to eiect actuation of said valve means, means forming a gas chamber on one side of said diaphragm adapted to contain a predetermined amount of trapped gas under pressure, said last means consisting of "a metal dome having anges for clamping to the remainder of the valve body, means forming a gas chamber upon the other side of said diaphragm adapted to be connected to a source of gas of variable pressure, and means including at least one manually operable valve for 4introducing additional gas under pressure into said first named chamber or for permitting venting of gas from said nrst named chamber,

'said last means comprising a needle valve threaded into the body, whereby turning of said needle valve moves the same between open and closed positions, and means forming two valve seats for said needle valve member, one of said seats serving to seal the same in closed positiona and the other of said seats servingto seal the same in full open position, the 'intermediate position of said valve member permitting leakage of gas from said ilrst named chamber to reduce the pressure within the same.

MARVIN H. GROVE. 

